Chyna - Mini- Biography

Chyna, formerly known as Joanie Marie Laurer is an actress and a former professional wrestler. Her most famous stint as a wrestler came in the WWE as she started out as a bodyguard for the now defunct group known as Degeneration X, led by wrestlers Triple H and Shawn Michaels and included wrestlers as X-Pac, Billy Gunn and Road Dogg. She would interfere in matches by handing out low blows to opposing wrestlers while the referee’s back was turned. She was dressed in black and was an imposing figure at 5’10” and around 190 pounds. Her nickname was the “Ninth Wonder of the World” as Andre the Giant had the “Eighth Wonder of the World” moniker. Soon, Chyna used that to her advantage and became a wrestler. She was the first woman to be in the Royal Rumble and the first woman to compete in the King of the Ring tournament that same year. She was also the first woman to win the Intercontinental title, not once but twice, from male wrestlers and was co-holder of the title with Chris Jericho. The second and last Intercontinental title victory was from Jeff Jarrett who lost to her in his last match in the WWE. It is also reported that he demanded 250,000 dollars from the WWE to lose to her cleanly.

In Chyna’s early life, she received a scholarship to attend high school in Spain and graduated from there as well. She attended the University of Tampa where she majored in Spanish and Literature. She is fluent in several languages and served some time in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica teaching literacy. After that she trained for several physical fitness competitions and wanted a career path that would take her that route. She decided on professional wrestling. She was trained as a wrestler by Killer Kowalski in 1995 and is also where she met Triple H, then known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley and he got her to debut in the WWE in 1996 as his bodyguard as he was involved in a feud with Goldust and his manager, Marlena.

Chyna was also the WWE’s Women’s Champion for a time defeating such wrestlers as Ivory, Molly Holly, Trish Stratus and Lita. She was dating Triple H for awhile until he started dating Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of WWE CEO Vince McMahon. It is unsure whether it was the lack of money she wanted to renew her contract or if it was that Triple H left for Stephanie as the reason for her not renewing her contract and leaving the WWE in November of 2001.

After the WWE, she had made appearances on television shows such as “Third Rock from the Sun” and the Surreal Life. She has also gone into a rehab to get away from drugs and alcohol and it is reported that VH1 is turning that rehab stint into a reality show. In 2007, she had her name legally changed to Chyna and you will find a link to TMZ’s website that shows the court document. Chyna has also appeared in Playboy and were record setting selling editions and one even outsold former WWE Diva and wrestler, Sable, by 1.5 million copies.